Preston to set up own test and trace system as city re-enters lockdown

  • Video report by ITV News Correspondent Damon Green

Health officials in Preston are planning to set up their own test and trace service amid growing criticism the government’s centralised system is too slow and missing coronavirus cases. 

It comes as ministers announced that lockdown measures will be re-introduced in the area following a surge of coronavirus infections. 

From midnight Friday, separate households will be banned from meeting each other at households. Similar measures are already in place in Greater Manchester, with the government concerned about the disease spreading in the North West. 

The council is the latest to break ranks and set up its own test and trace system to get to grips with the outbreak, following in the footsteps of neighbouring Blackburn and Darwen.  

Health officials there had criticised the government-led service for being “too slow”.  

A contact tracer working as part of Blackburn’s own system told ITV News that they were having much more success than national tracers, as people were more likely to pick up phone calls from local area codes. 

Dr Sakthi Karunanithi, the Director of Public Health for Lancashire, said officials would look to replicate Blackburn’s system. 

Greater Manchester and parts of East Lancashire had new coronavirus restrictions imposed last week. Credit: PA

Speaking at a press conference this afternoon, he told ITV News the test and trace service would work alongside the Government. 

He said: “The test and trace system is a complex programme, and what we’re going to do is set our own programme to support the completion of NHS Test & Trace. 

“We are planning to do what other areas with high levels of infection are doing, for example in Blackburn and Darwen. Before we reach that level [of infection] we will be on our way to establishing our own local contact tracing programme. 

“We really need to work together with the national agencies, and that’s what we’re doing.” 

Lockdown restrictions have already been put in place in Greater Manchester and parts of East Lancashire. They will remain in place for the next week and be reviewed next Friday. 

Social bubbles will be exempt from the restrictions in Preston and people can meet in groups of up to six in outdoor settings. 

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: "The past week has been difficult for many people in Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire and East Lancashire, and I thank everyone in these areas for their patience and willingness to follow the rules. 

“Yesterday I chaired a meeting of the Local Action Gold Committee, and unfortunately, the data does not yet show a decrease in the transmission of this terrible virus. 

"It means we must keep the current restrictions in place to allow more time for the impact of this ban on indoor gatherings to be felt, and make sure local residents and their loved ones are protected.

"At the request of the local area, we are also extending these restrictions to Preston."